Fourteen Ninety Seven:
Our nation is in turmoil. Our king has lead our country to war and our people are exhausted. With revolts breaking out all over our nation, the king calls for mercenaries to help subdue the rabble.
Russia's insistence of an alliance between themselves, our nation, and Venice brought our king and Doge Leonardo San Paulo to the table to discuss terms. However, the Russian king stormed out when disagreements were held at the conference table. Even though an alliance could not be forged with the East, Venice and King Joachim I Siegmund reached terms and formed the Saxon-Italian Alliance.
Death Current Chronicler
It is uncertain who took over, but records do exist from this time, though religious and political turmoil make them spotty, at best.
1498:
Continual combat against the rebels weakened our nation. Further expansion of our Kingdom could not be carried out due to domestic problems. The Reformation has begun to spread, an idea that the king is excited about. He accepts religious difference but remains, himself, Catholic.
1499:
King Fryderikas I of Lithuania calls for an alliance. Hoping that they will help subdue our rebels, our king accepts. Our Kingdom sits on the edge, doom is coming and our king steps down from his throne and appoints Friedrich Wilhelm II.
1500:
The King of Denmark has passed. In his will, he declared the kingdom to be left to his daughter who was married Friedrich Wilhelm II. Friedrich Wilhelm II welcomes the Danish culture, though Saxon peasants and religious rebels still plague our nation. Many wonder if our king is spreading himself too thin, as the rebels continue to gain ground.
In attempts to keep the northern border secured, an alliance was reached with King Karl IX Gustav of Sweden.
1502:
Our king, in the Battle of Brandenburg, finally succumbed to the rebels. Though they let him stay in power, the rebels ordered reformation in both religion and government. Not wishing to keep fighting, our king, who, like his predecessor, welcomed the conversion and agreed to governmental change. Where once we were a feudal monarchy, we now exist as a Despotic Monarchy, our kings our elected by god. Though I can tell my king does not wish this political reformation, he knows he is beaten and has no choice but to accept the rebels orders.
1504:
Our king is but a puppet now. Joachim I Siegmund, our fleeing king, defects with some Danish patriots to reform Denmark. Hesse, too, breaks away from our kingdom. Though our nation has decreased in size, the borders have surely shifted. The unification of the Saxon people, which was once written about by previous scholars, seems to be in jeopardy. Our king, with no true power, cannot continue in the path of his predecessors. What's worse, during this time we are dragged into war by our Venetian allies, who have not welcomed our reformation with open arms. Our relations strained, our nation crippled, I do not know if our nation can survive the coming years. Only through strength and reorganization can we overcome this adversity.
1505:
Though our troops have done nothing, a white peace was accepted against the Milanese. We will do anything to keep out of war.
1508:
Our former king has urged his king, the king of Denmark, to pursue peaceful relations with Friedrich Wilhelm II. It would appear that they, too, have accepted the Reformed religion into their hearts and hope that our nations can once again be on the level the once were--before the inheritance.
1509:
God has willed us to vassalize the Prussian Pretenders to the East--though our king clearly does not wish it. Our few remaining allies, Denmark, Venice, and Thurungia, come to our aide against Lithuania, Prussia, and the recently reformed Teutonic Knights. The war is swift.
1510:
Peace is quickly agreed upon with both Prussia and the Teutonic Knights--both are vassalized under our nation with God, or is it the power behind the throne, wills us to annex the pretenders. Lithuania, eager to get out of war, gives us 100 ducats in terms for peace. With any luck, these new conquests will mark a time of great expansion from our nation. But where will we go? to the East? To the West? Or what of this new world that has been spoken of by Spanish, Dutch, and British explorers? Is there any truth to a land of beauty that lies to the west?
OOC:
only one screenshot was taken because I was focused on dealing with the Rebel problem. Next week, with any luck, the save will not be corrupt and our session will cover more years than just 10. I want to thank everyone for their patience with our technical problems.